Teenager pleads guilty in Melfa break-ins

An Accomack County prosecutor in a burglary case related to a string of break-ins in Melfa earlier this year called the young people terrorizing the townspeople, “a group of feral teenagers with free range of the town.”

Homes and businesses in Melfa were broken into in the nighttime between March and April this year and many items, including numerous guns were stolen. Most of the crimes were committed by juveniles.

Liam Sherwood turned 18 while in the midst of the crime spree and was in circuit court recently pleading guilty to three counts of burglary and three counts grand larceny along with several related misdemeanors.

“He was a juvenile when some (other) offenses were committed,” said Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan.

He said there are five other co-defendants.

Morgan said some of the stolen goods were found in Sherwood’s possession. He said the defendant volunteered at the fire department and knew when fire chief Christopher Davis was at the fire station at night.

Sherwood admitted taking a pistol, two shotguns and a ring valued at $15,000 from Davis’ residence, the court heard. Also taken was a $1,000 television, more jewelry and a rifle.

The home of Steve Turlington was also burglarized and ransacked, said Morgan. Because of that and to protect their belongings there, he and his wife were staying in an apartment above their antique store in town. In the night they heard the sound of glass breaking. They found a cash register there missing.

The largest heist of all was at a house owned by a woman who did not live there full time. That house was entered on multiple occasions, said Morgan. Property removed from the home included jewelry, antiques, household items and alcohol, having a total value of $43,000.

Morgan called this theft the most egregious of all.

“These were significant losses,” Morgan said.

“Mr. Sherwood made a complete confession,” said defense attorney Paul Watson. “But for his cooperation, his co-defendants might not have been identified.”

He asked that his client be evaluated for the detention and diversion programs.

Judge W. Revell Lewis III ordered that a presentence investigation report be prepared and that Sherwood be evaluated for the community-based programs. He will remain in jail pending sentencing.